Kisumu Launches Drone-Delivered Blood and Vaccine Service to Enhance Healthcare

Kisumu, Kenya – The Ministry of Health has inaugurated a new drone delivery service at the Zipline facility in Chemelil, Kisumu County, aiming to provide blood products and vaccines to hospitals in Kisumu and Homa Bay Counties. This innovative project is designed to significantly shorten delivery times for critical medical supplies, which is expected to have a major impact on reducing maternal mortality and malaria-induced anemia in the region.

According to Kenya News Agency, who spoke at the launch event, the introduction of drone technology represents a crucial step forward in improving healthcare accessibility and achieving Universal Health Coverage in Kenya. “The launch of drone deliveries for blood and vaccines is a transformative moment for healthcare in Kenya. This technology has the potential to revolutionize access to critical medical supplies, particularly in remote areas, and significantly reduce malaria burden,” Nakhumicha said.

The initiative addresses several challenges in transporting blood and blood products, such as complex supply chains, short shelf lives, and unpredictable demand. Zipline utilizes a centralized stock system and on-demand delivery, which reduces waste and storage needs at local health facilities.

Miki Sofer, Zipline’s Vice President of Health Partnerships, stated that the service will initially cover Kisumu and Homa Bay counties and plans to expand to other areas within the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB). “We are here to celebrate one of the many milestones coming from our partnership with the County Government of Kisumu to reach the unreachable and enable healthcare access,” Sofer commented.

The project, which aligns with World Malaria Day, also includes the delivery of malaria tests and treatment kits. The National Vaccines and Immunization Program (NVIP) has approved the distribution, highlighting the importance of leveraging technology to fight malaria mortality in the region.

Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, represented by his Deputy Dr. Mathews Owili, praised the strategic partnership with Zipline. “As we strive towards Universal Health Coverage, the government must enter strategic partnerships to ensure that health building blocks and innovative solutions and logistics management of medical supplies will play a vital role. I commend our partnership with Zipline, which has already made over 6,300 deliveries of life-saving commodities since its inception in February 2023,” said Owili.

Zipline, a U.S.-based company, established its regional distribution hub in Kisumu in February 2023. Since then, it has made over 6,300 deliveries to more than 400 health facilities, distributing vital medical supplies including oxytocin, snake antivenom, anti-rabies vials, and even livestock semen for artificial insemination purposes.